Roma’s Mehdi Benatia ‘wants to move to Chelsea’ and play for Jose Mourinho

Roma defender Mehdi Benatia is reportedly eyeing a move to Chelsea this summer – after having previously snubbed the chance to sign for the Blues earlier in his career.

The 27-year-old has been linked with several clubs, including Manchester City, who were believed to want Benatia as a back-up option for their first-choice defensive target, Porto’s Eliaquim Mangala.

However, with City seemingly days away from completing the £32m signing of Mangala, Italian publication Gazetta dello Sport has reported that Benatia is keen to link up with Blues boss Jose Mourinho – with the centre-back believed to be valued at £30m by Roma.

Benatia came close to playing under the Portuguese tactician earlier in his career when he rejected a move to Chelsea from Marseille during Mourinho’s first spell in charge at Stamford Bridge because of fears over homesickness.

Benatia went on to play for a number of different French sides before eventually leaving his country of birth for Italian club Udinese in 2010.

His impressive performances for the side resulted in a move to Roma in 2013, where Benatia has since developed into one of the finest defenders in Serie A.